Means for supporting a window sash



June 15, 1954 M. V. NOECKER MEANS FOR'SUPPORTING-A WINDOW SASH File'dJan. 16. 1952 INVENTOR.

Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATES eerie 8 Claims.

This invention refers to a device for supporting a window sash andparticularly to such a device which is readily retractable, eithertemporarily or permanently, from its window supporting position.

In the manufacture of windows and screens of various types havingsliding panels, and particularly those involving metal sash receivingelements, there has been proposed a wide variety of devices for holdinga sash in a selected position, and many of these proposals have attaineda reasonable degree of success. However, most of these devices, insofaras I am aware, usually require special parts of varying degrees ofcomplexity or require the provision of special means for receiving suchelements into the window sash or into the window frame. On the otherhand, devices of satisfactory simplicity, usually are eitherinsufiiciently sturdy for reliable operation or are somewhat limited intheir adaptability to diiferent uses.

In a particular adaptation of metal frames for supporting storm andscreen sash, such as that shown in my co-pending application Serial No.249,643, filed October 14, 1951, there is required a device for normallyholding a sash in its raised position but which should be retractabletemporarily to permit the window panel to slide downwardly past saidsupporting means or which may be retracted, and will stay retractedwithout further attention from the operator, for as long as the operatordesires in order to facilitate the installation or the removal of thesash into or from the window frame.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide aresilient, retractable, window sash supporting means which is simple andeconomical to fabricate and install.

A further object of the invention is to provide a window supportingdevice, as aforesaid, which is simple and reliable in its operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a window supportingdevice, as aforesaid, which will be sturdy and not readily subject tofailure.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to personsacquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading thefollowing disclosure and upon a study of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of a typical window frame employingthe supporting device of the invention. l

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line II--II of Figure 1.

2 Figure 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of Figure 1.

In illustrating the invention, one typical installation thereof will beutilized for illustrative with only slight modifications. Suchmodifications, in view of the description hereinafter given, will beobvious to those skilled in the art and will need no detailing.

Turning first to the structure of one particular sash and sash framewith which the supporting device of the invention is advantageouslyutilized, there is shown in the drawings a generally U- shaped panelreceiving frame element 9 of a type No. 249,643, As set forth in moredetail in said patent, or said application, such sash panel receivingelement may be mounted in any of several convenient ways on the insideof a conventional window opening and usually outside of the blind stopnormally found on the frame defining said window opening. A sash panelIt, which may be either screen or glass, is received between the legs orsides of the U within the frame element 9 in the manner fragmentarilyshown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings and is further shown in detailin said Kaufmann patent or in my said co-pending application.

It will be observed from the drawings that both the sash panel and theframe element are in this illustrative embodiment formed of rolled sheetmetal, as aluminum, but it will also be appreciated that the method offabrication is of no importance inasmuch as it may equally well compriseextruded material. Further. it will be recognized in the light of thedisclosure hereinafter following, that although the parts herein shownare assumed to be of metal, the supporting element may readily bemodified for use with a wooden sash frame.

The supporting elements themselves are comprised of a leaf spring 14which is pivotally affixed, as by riveting, at It: to one leg M of theU-shaped member 9. If, as is normal, it is desired to control the windowsupporting device from the inside of the building to which the window isaifixed, the leg I2 of said U-shaped member ii will be the leg which isinteriorly of ings in each of said actuators and said leaf spring.

Said pin may be press fitted into place or, it may be fastened by anyother convenient means,

such as soldering, providing only that the ends 21 and 28 of theactuator and the leaf spring are held tightly and rigidly together. Saidpin is of sufficient length as to extend through an opening 22 in theside l2 of the U-shaped frame member 9 and substantially across theopen'space 23 between said legs II and I2 of said U-shaped member. Thesash panel |0 rests upon this pin and is supported by it.

The actuator 26 extends from the pin 2| toward the end 1-38 of the leafspring. At a point 3i intermediate the pin 2| and the rivet N5, saidactuator is bent sufiiciently to extend away from said leaf spring at arelatively large angle, such as between about 30 and about :5". At thepoint st of bending, there may be advantageously placed a smallembossing 25 for the double purpose of resisting the tendency of theactuator 2b to straighten and to provide a sharper pivot point for itshereinafter described ac ,ion. From the pin 2| to the point 3| ofbending, said actuator and said leaf spring lie closely together.

Operation With the supporting device in the position shown in solidlines in the drawings, the supporting device will support a window sashupon the pin 2| solidly and firmly, and without likeli hood of slippageor other failure. When it is desired to lower the window sash, the end24 of the actuator is urged toward the U-shaped member in any convenientmanner, as by the if is necessary only to retract the pin 2|, asaforesaid, sufficiently to cause the pin 2| to be moved all of the wayout of and away from the U-shaped member 9 and then to pivot the entireholding device around the rivet Iii into the position shown in brokenlines at A in Figure 1. In this position the pin 2| will be out ofregister with the opening 22 and will rest against the adjacent side ofthe leg |2 of the U-shaped member. The actuating device will remain inthis position for as V long as desired and thus leave the operator withboth hands free to manipulate the window sash as desired. As soon assaid manipuiation is completed and the sash restored into the positionat which it is desired to support said sash, the

supporting device is again pivoted around the rivet l5 and as soon asthe pin 2| comes into register with the opening 22 it will snap intoposition and resume its sash supporting functions.

It will be seen from inspection of the drawing 75 that the position ofthe pivot point 3| may be moved rather widely between the pin 2| and therivet Is and in some instances it may even be moved a limited distancebeyond said rivet. However, the proportions shown in the drawing will befound to provide a fully and effectively workable device and it will befound preferable to have the said pivot point lying somewhere betweensaid rivet IE and a point about half way between the ends of said leafspring.

Accordingly, I have illustrated and described a device carrying out theobjects and purposes above set forth.

While I have disclosed and described above a specific embodimentillustrating my invention, it will be appreciated that a number ofmodifications may be made to adapt the device to a variety of difierentuses and accordingly it should be understood that the claims hereinafterappended should be construed to include such modifications except assaid claims by their own terms expressly limit otherwise.

I claim:

1. In a device supporting a sash sliding within a metal sash frame, theelements of said frame which retain said sash each having spaced sidesand an internal opening therebetween, the combination comprising: meansdefining an opening through one of said sides and in communication withsaid internal opening; a leaf spring element aligned longitudinally ofsaid sash frame element and positioned externally thereof, having oneend overlying said opening and its other end affixed to said sash frameelement; a pin extending from said one end of said leaf spring elementthrough said opening and substantially across said internal opening; anactuator element rigidly affixed to said leaf spring element at said oneend and extending substantially adjacent said leaf spring elementtowards said other end of said leaf spring element and having a handleportion bearing against said leaf spring element at a point near saidother end thereof and extending away from said leaf spring element, saidactuator element being sufficiently rigid to flex said leaf springelement by moving said handle toward said leaf spring element, and saidleaf spring element being sufficiently rigid to support independentlysaid sash through said pin.

2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said handle is locatedintermediate the ends of said leaf spring element.

3. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said handle is located betweensaid other end of said leaf spring element and a point approximatelyhalf way between the ends of said leaf spring element.

4. The device defined in claim 1 wherein the leaf spring element isafiixed at said other end to said frame element for pivotal movement ina plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of saidpin as it moves in and out of operating position.

5. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said Q pin constitutes also themeans fastening said actuator element and said leaf spring elementtogether.

6. The device defined in claim 1. wherein said actuator element hasmeans projecting toward said leaf spring element located at the point ofintersection between said handle and the body portion of said actuatorelement.

7. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said handle constitutes anextension of the body portion of said actuator element and is positionedat a relatively large acute angle to the plane of end adjacent said pin,the upper portion of said said leaf spring element.

actuator element being parallel with and ex- In a device for supportinga sash within tending toward the lower end of said leaf spring vertical,metal frame elements having U-shaped element and the lower portion ofsaid actuator cross-sections each providing a pair of spaced, elementbeing bent away from said leaf spring element between the upper andlower ends thereof, said actuator element being sufficiently rigid toflex said leaf spring element, thereby withdrawing said pin from saidopening when said spring element lying against the outer surface of Wlower portion is urged toward said leaf spring element.

element overlying said opening; means securing the lower end of saidleaf spring element to said one side for pivotal movement of said leafspring element in a plane parallel with said one side;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date a pin secured to the upper end of said leaf spring element andextendable perpendicular to said Zg Behrmann 1916 plane through saidopening toward, but spaced Pat July 1932 from, the other side of saidone of said metal FOREIGN PATENTS frame elements, said leaf springelement being w sufficiently rigid to support said sash throu h sg g ggg i g g said pin; an elongated actuator elementrigidly 22145 GreatBritain 20 1895 afiixed to said leaf spring element at said upper

